U.S. patent application number 16/419878 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-26 for method, apparatus, and system for collecting and providing route-related information based on citizen band radio.
The applicant listed for this patent is HERE GLOBAL B.V.. Invention is credited to Buddika GAJAPALA.
Application Number | 20200372796 16/419878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004125709 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200372796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GAJAPALA; Buddika |
November 26, 2020 |
METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND PROVIDING
ROUTE-RELATED INFORMATION BASED ON CITIZEN BAND RADIO
Abstract
An approach is provided for collecting and providing up-to-date
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications. The approach involves capturing, by device, a
citizen band (CB) radio communication from a user as an audio
sample. The approach also involves processing the audio sample into
text using speech recognition. The approach further involves
processing the text using natural language processing (NLP) to
detect content. The approach further involves transmitting the
content to a server, wherein the server distributes the content to
one or more other users. The approach also involves the server
receiving one or more messages from one or more devices, storing
the one or more messages at a central server, and distributing the
one or more messages from the central server to one or more other
devices.
Inventors: |
GAJAPALA; Buddika;
(Naperville, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HERE GLOBAL B.V. |
Eindhoven |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004125709 |
Appl. No.: |
16/419878 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/096791 20130101;
G10L 15/18 20130101; G10L 15/26 20130101; G08G 1/091 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08G 1/0967 20060101
G08G001/0967; G08G 1/09 20060101 G08G001/09; G10L 15/26 20060101
G10L015/26; G10L 15/18 20060101 G10L015/18 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: capturing, by device, a citizen band (CB)
radio communication from a user as an audio sample; processing the
audio sample into text using speech recognition; processing the
text using natural language processing (NLP) to detect content; and
transmitting the content to a server, wherein the server
distributes the content to one or more other users.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content includes one or more
tags, one or more key words, or a combination thereof determined by
the NLP.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: generating a message
comprising at least one of an identifier of the device, a sensed
location of the device, the one or more tags, the one or more key
words, a timestamp, a flag indicating that the message originates
from a broadcaster of the CB radio communication, or a combination
thereof, wherein the content is transmitted to the server using the
message.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is transmitted to the
server or distributed from the server using a messaging
protocol.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the messaging protocol is a short
messaging service (SMS) protocol.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the server distributes the
content to the one or more other users via an application executing
on a receiving device, a display device with connectivity to a CB
radio system, or a combination thereof.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content relates to traffic
information, truck parking conditions, accident information,
information on other drivers, road condition information, or a
combination thereof.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is distributed to the
one or more other users as an alert message.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is distributed to the
one or more other users based on one or more filters selected by
the one or more other users.
10. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least
one memory including computer program code for one or more
programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code
configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus
to perform at least the following: receive one or more messages
from a one or more devices, wherein the one or more messages are
generated by capturing a citizen band (CB) radio communication as
an audio sample, wherein the audio sample is processed to detect
content using natural language processing (NLP) by the one or more
devices, and wherein the one or more messages are generated to
include the content; store the one or more messages at a central
server; and distribute the one or more messages from the central
server to one or more other devices.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more messages
include one or more contextual parameters.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more contextual
parameters include a timestamp associated with the CB radio
communication, a location associated with the CB radio
communication, or a combination thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: group the one or more messages into a single message
based on the one or more contextual parameters, wherein the single
message is distributed from the central server to the one or more
other devices.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more messages
include a plurality of unique messages, and wherein the apparatus
is further caused to: derive a higher order scenario message
content based on the plurality of unique messages; and transmitting
the higher order scenario message content to the one or more other
devices.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further
caused to: generate one or more location-specific alerts based on
the one or more messages, wherein the one or more messages are
distributed to the one or more other devices as the one or more
location-specific alerts.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more or more
location-specific alerts are transmitted as a location-specific
stream to the one or more other devices.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one
or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed
by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform:
capturing, by device, a citizen band (CB) radio communication from
a user as an audio sample; processing the audio sample into text
using speech recognition; processing the text using natural
language processing (NLP) to detect content; and transmitting the
content to a server, wherein the server distributes the content to
one or more other users.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim
17, wherein the content includes one or more tags, one or more key
words, or a combination thereof determined by the NLP.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the apparatus if further caused to perform: generating
a message comprising at least one of an identifier of the device, a
sensed location of the device, the one or more tags, the one or
more key words, a timestamp, a flag indicating that the message
originates from a broadcaster of the CB radio communication, or a
combination thereof, wherein the content is transmitted to the
server using the message.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the content is transmitted to the server or distributed
from the server using a messaging protocol.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Providing up-to-date route-related information (e.g.,
traffic conditions, accidents, parking availability, etc.) to users
of vehicles planning to travel or traveling on a road network is an
important function for navigation and mapping service providers.
For example, knowing real-time road conditions and/or situations in
route to a destination and/or the availability of parking at the
destination can have a significant impact on a user's trip
planning, routing, and/or estimated time of arrival. One popular
means of communicating such information, particularly among
long-haul truck drivers, is citizen band (CB) radio. However, CB
radio has a limited range (e.g., 3-4 miles) and, therefore, users
beyond that distance may not receive the information. In addition,
CB radio is an analog (non-digital) radio transmission, which is
susceptible to a high signal-to-noise ratio (i.e., interference)
and is difficult to automate. Further, CB radio lacks scalability
in that users cannot listen to multiple CB channels at the same
time and, therefore, may miss useful information being shared on
another channel.
SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0002] Therefore, there is a need for collecting and providing
up-to-date route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications.
[0003] According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method
comprises capturing, by device, a CB radio communication from a
user as an audio sample. The method also comprises processing the
audio sample into text using speech recognition. The method further
comprises processing the text using natural language processing
(NLP) to detect content. The method further comprises transmitting
the content to a server, wherein the server distributes the content
to one or more other users.
[0004] According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprising at
least one processor, and at least one memory including computer
program code for one or more computer programs, the at least one
memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at
least one processor, cause the apparatus, at least in part, to
receive one or more messages from a one or more devices, wherein
the one or more messages are generated by capturing a CB radio
communication as an audio sample, wherein the audio sample is
processed to detect content using NLP by the one or more devices,
and wherein the one or more messages are generated to include the
content. The apparatus is also caused to store the one or more
messages at a central server. The apparatus is further caused to
distribute the one or more messages from the central server to one
or more other devices.
[0005] According to another embodiment, a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of
one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more
processors, cause, at least in part, an apparatus to perform
capturing, by device, a CB radio communication from a user as an
audio sample. The apparatus is also caused to perform processing
the audio sample into text using speech recognition. The apparatus
is further caused to perform processing the text using NLP to
detect content. The apparatus is further caused to perform
transmitting the content to a server, wherein the server
distributes the content to one or more other users.
[0006] According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises
means for capturing, by device, a CB radio communication from a
user as an audio sample. The apparatus also comprises means for
processing the audio sample into text using speech recognition. The
apparatus further comprises means for processing the text using NLP
to detect content. The apparatus further comprises means for
transmitting the content to a server, wherein the server
distributes the content to one or more other users.
[0007] In addition, for various example embodiments of the
invention, the following is applicable: a method comprising
facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2)
information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2)
information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part,
on (or derived at least in part from) any one or any combination of
methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to
any embodiment of the invention.
[0008] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating
access to at least one interface configured to allow access to at
least one service, the at least one service configured to perform
any one or any combination of network or service provider methods
(or processes) disclosed in this application.
[0009] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising facilitating
creating and/or facilitating modifying (1) at least one device user
interface element and/or (2) at least one device user interface
functionality, the (1) at least one device user interface element
and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality based,
at least in part, on data and/or information resulting from one or
any combination of methods or processes disclosed in this
application as relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or
at least one signal resulting from one or any combination of
methods (or processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to
any embodiment of the invention.
[0010] For various example embodiments of the invention, the
following is also applicable: a method comprising creating and/or
modifying (1) at least one device user interface element and/or (2)
at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) at least
one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device
user interface functionality based at least in part on data and/or
information resulting from one or any combination of methods (or
processes) disclosed in this application as relevant to any
embodiment of the invention, and/or at least one signal resulting
from one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in
this application as relevant to any embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes)
can be accomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile
device side or in any shared way between service provider and
mobile device with actions being performed on both sides.
[0012] For various example embodiments, the following is
applicable: An apparatus comprising means for performing the method
of any of the claims.
[0013] Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the
invention are readily apparent from the following detailed
description, simply by illustrating a number of particular
embodiments and implementations, including the best mode
contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also
capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details
can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the
accompanying drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of collecting and
providing up-to-date route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications, according to one
embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of a notification
platform/notification module, according to one embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a device-side process for
collecting route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a server-side process for providing
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications, according to one embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example architecture for
collecting and providing route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications, according to one
embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example user interface for
collecting route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment;
[0021] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of example user interfaces for
providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a geographic database, according to
one embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram of hardware that can be used to
implement an embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to
implement an embodiment of the invention; and
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset or
vehicle or part thereof) that can be used to implement an
embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Examples of a method, apparatus, and computer program for
collecting and automatically providing route-related information
based on voice-activated CB radio communications are disclosed. In
the following description, for the purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. It is
apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments
of the invention may be practiced without these specific details or
with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of collecting and
providing up-to-date route-related information to a user (e.g., a
long-haul truck driver) based on voice-activated CB radio
communications. As described above, knowing real-time road
conditions and/or situations in route to a destination and/or the
availability of parking at the destination can have a significant
impact on a user's trip planning, routing, and/or estimated time of
arrival. However, obtaining up-to-date route-related information,
particularly real-time information, is particularly challenging.
For example, service providers often leverage municipality
dispatches (e.g., road closure reports), web scrapings, police
reports, local news, etc. to determine route-related information.
However, this information can quickly become out of date and,
therefore, not particularly useful. Moreover, the information from
these sources is often limited to popular roads and highways and,
therefore, the information is difficult to scale to the vast road
network commonly experienced today. Further, trying to update
and/or adapt this information in real time may require considerable
human interaction (e.g., human observation and/or
verification).
[0028] One popular approach to communicating route-related
information, particularly among long-haul truck drivers, is CB
radio. For example, a driver may use her/his CB radio to let
another driver know that there is a police speed trap on the road
or route that the driver is driving or on a road or route that the
driver can observe or that an accident is causing a considerable
traffic delay and, therefore, other drivers may want to consider
alternative routes and/or plan accordingly. However, effective
communication using CB radio poses many challenges. First, CB radio
has a limited range (e.g., 3-4 miles). Therefore, users beyond this
range may not receive the transmitted information. Second, CB radio
is an analog (non-digital) transmission, which is susceptible to
high signal-to-noise ratio (i.e., interference) and is difficult to
automate. Third, CB radio lacks scalability in that users cannot
listen to multiple CB channels at the same time and, therefore, may
miss useful information being shared on another channel. Last,
because CB radio has a limited number of channels (e.g., 40), the
channels often become "crowded" with information, making quickly
discerning what, when, and where an incident or event is happening
a considerable challenge.
[0029] To address these technical problems, a system 100 of FIG. 1
introduces a capability to collect and to provide up-to-date (e.g.,
real time) route-related information to a user (e.g., a long-haul
truck driver) based on voice-activated CB radio communications,
according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the system 100
includes one or more user equipment (UE) 101a-101n (also
collectively referred to herein as UEs 101) (e.g., a CB radio)
having one or more device sensors 103a-103n (also collectively
referred to herein as device sensors 103) (e.g., a microphone) that
can capture a user talking or speaking into a UE 101 while driving
one or more vehicles 105a-105n (also collectively referred to
herein as vehicles 105) (e.g., a long-haul truck) on a road or
route 107 of a road network 109. By way of example, a user may be
driving a long-haul truck on the route 107, notice a speed trap
along the route, and want to warn other users of this fact. In this
instance, the user might say into her/his CB radio 101 "speed trap
on route 107 northbound near mile marker 56."
[0030] In one embodiment, the system 100 converts the user's speech
(e.g., "speed trap on route 107 northbound around mile marker 56")
into text using one or more applications 111a-111n (also
collectively referred to herein as applications 111) (e.g., a
Speech to Text application) of the UEs 101. In one embodiment, the
system 100 then processes the text using one or more applications
111 (e.g., a Natural Language Processing (NLP) application) to
detect meaningful route-related content. By way of example, the
meaningful content may pertain to traffic, truck parking
information, accidents, or even abnormal driving behavior (e.g., an
unstable or erratic driver). In this example, the system 100 may
use an NLP application 111 to detect meaningful content such as
"speed trap," "northbound," and "mile marker 56."
[0031] In one embodiment, the UEs 101 also have connectivity to a
notification platform 113 via the communication network 115. In one
embodiment, the notification platform 113 may be a cloud-based
platform that collects and processes voice or spoken CB radio
communications (e.g., a user's observation or warning). In one
instance, the notification platform 113 can perform the speech to
text conversion and/or NLP processing to minimize the cost and
footprint of a UE 101 (e.g., a smart CB radio). In one embodiment,
the notification platform 113 has connectivity over the
communication 115 to the services platform 117 (e.g., an OEM
platform) that provides one or more services 119a-119n (also
collectively referred to herein as services 119) (e.g., speech
transcription and/or NLP services). Alternatively, or in addition,
in one embodiment, one or more services 119 (e.g., a
voice-activated cloud-based service) can also perform the speech to
text conversation and/or NLP processing to minimize the cost and
footprint of a UE 101.
[0032] In one embodiment, the UEs 101 include a notification module
121 to transmit the meaningful route-related content to the
notification platform 113 via the communication network 115. In one
embodiment, the message generated by the system 100 and transmitted
by the notification module 121 comprises the following structure:
[0033] Device ID [0034] location (longitude (Lon), latitude (Lat))
(e.g., picked up from GPS sensors 103) [0035] Text message (e.g.,
"speed trap . . . northbound . . . mile marker 56") [0036] NLP
derived features (e.g., tags and/or key words) [0037] Boolean flags
(e.g., indicating whether the message originated from a microphone
103 of a UE 101 (e.g., a CB Radio) as opposed to a speaker of a UE
101) In one embodiment, the transmitted message may also include a
time stamp (e.g., based on a GPS sensor 103). In one instance, the
notification module 121 also includes cellular radio capabilities
(e.g., general packet radio service (GPRS) or global system for
mobile communications (GSM) capabilities) for transmitting the
message via a cellular data network (e.g., the communication
network 115).
[0038] In one embodiment, the system 100 receives one or more
messages from multiple sources (e.g., multiple CB radios 101
listening to the same channel and sending messages). In one
embodiment, the system 100 can combine the one or more received
messages based on the text message (or hash generated out of it)
(e.g., "speed trap on route 107 northbound near mile mark 56") and
approximate time stamps to derive the approximate location of the
original source (e.g., northbound on route 107). In one instance,
if one of the messages includes location information (e.g., a
"broadcaster" flag set location, GPS coordinates, etc.), then the
system 100 can determine the location of the one or more other
messages based on that location rather than based on an
approximation.
[0039] In one instance, the system 100 can derive higher order
scenarios based on receiving multiple unique messages transmitted
at approximately the same time from approximately the same location
to generate additional alerts. In other words, in one embodiment,
the system 100 can determine a pattern (e.g., a multiple vehicle
accident, a tractor trailer accident wherein the vehicle contents
have been spilled on the road, etc.) based on the reception of the
multiple unique messages. By way of example, a higher order
scenario may include hot spots, accident information, truck parking
availability, etc.
[0040] In one embodiment, the system 100 streams one or more
location specific alerts to other UEs 101 (e.g., CB radios) via the
communication network 115. In one instance, the system 100 can
transmit or broadcast an alert to a user via an application 111
(e.g., a messaging or alert application) rather than through a
channel of a CB radio. As a result, the system 100 can transmit or
broadcast an alert to a user even though that user is not turned to
the channel that another user used to broadcast the incident.
Consequently, the system 100 can collect actionable and automatable
information from human communication over a CB radio; can extend
the range of information from a few miles to any distance; and can
process the information to generate higher order patterns (e.g.,
accident information).
[0041] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of the notification
platform 113 and/or notification module 121, according to one
embodiment. In one embodiment, the notification module 121 can
perform all or a portion of the functions of the notification
platform 113 alone or in combination with the notification platform
113. By way of example, the notification platform 113 and/or the
notification module 121 includes one or more components for
collecting and providing route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications. It is contemplated that
the functions of these components may be combined in one or more
components or performed by other components of equivalent
functionality. In one embodiment, the notification platform 113
and/or the notification module 121 includes a sampling module 201,
a transcription module 203, a data processing module 205, a
communication module 207, and a storage module 209. In one
embodiment, the notification platform 113 has connectivity to the
geographic database 123. The above presented modules and components
of the notification platform 113 and/or notification module 121 can
be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination
thereof. Though depicted as separate entities in FIG. 1, it is
contemplated that the notification platform 113 and/or the
notification module 121 may be implemented as a module of any of
the components of the system 100. In another embodiment, the
notification platform 113, the notification module 121, and/or one
or more of the modules 201-209 may be implemented as a cloud-based
service, local service, native application, or combination thereof.
The functions of the notification platform 113, the notification
module 121, and/or the modules 201-209 are discussed with respect
to FIGS. 3 and 4 below.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a device-side process for
collecting route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment. In various
embodiments, the notification platform 113, the notification module
121, and/or the modules 201-209 as shown in FIG. 2 may perform one
or more portions of the process 300 and may be implemented in, for
instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in
FIG. 10. As such, the notification platform 113, the notification
module 121, and/or the modules 201-209 can provide means for
accomplishing various parts of the process 300, as well as means
for accomplishing embodiments of other processes described herein
in conjunction with other components of the system 100. Although
the process 300 is illustrated and described as a sequence of
steps, it is contemplated that various embodiments of the process
300 may be performed in any order or combination and need not
include all of the illustrated steps.
[0043] In step 301, the sampling module 201 captures, by device, a
CB radio communication from a user as an audio sample. By way of
example, the device may be a CB radio, a smart CB radio, or a
combination thereof capable of capturing human audio communications
(e.g., a vocal or spoken communication). In one embodiment, a smart
CB comprises a CB radio that has been enhanced by integrating a GPS
unit that determines a location related to the broadcasted content.
By way of example, the CB radio communication may be a verbal or
vocal observation, statement, warning, etc. that a user wants to
share, convey, or broadcast with one or more other users. For
example, a user may want to notify other drivers that there is an
accident on the road or route that the user is driving or on a road
or route that the user can observe from her/his location. By way of
example, a user may be a driver or a passenger of a vehicle (e.g.,
a long-haul truck) or an individual that is able to observe road
conditions and/or situations in real time and that wants to share
such information with others. In one instance, the audio sample may
be an analog audio file, a digital audio file, or a combination
thereof.
[0044] In step 303, the transcription module 203 processes the
audio sample (e.g., a verbal or spoken observation) into text using
speech recognition. By way of example, the transcription module 203
can processes the audio sample using speech to text, automatic
speech recognition, computer speech recognition, or the like. For
example, a user of a vehicle may be driving on a roadway and notice
an accident that she/he wants to warn other subsequent drivers
about. In one embodiment, the transcription module 203 can process
the user's voice or spoken statement captured by the sampling
module 201 into text (e.g., "be alert accident at mile marker 56
likely to cause traffic delay"). In one embodiment, the
transcription module 203 may be trained while processing audio
samples into text such that it may iteratively process the audio
sample more effectively over time.
[0045] In step 305, the data processing module 205 processes the
text using NLP to detect content. By way of example, the data
processing module 205 may process the text using NLP or any other
suitable process for analyzing large amounts of natural language
data. In one embodiment, the content includes one or more tags, one
or more key words, or a combination thereof determined by the NLP.
By way of example, a tag may comprise a part-of-speech (POS) (e.g.,
a verb, a noun, a adjective, etc.) to assist the data processing
module 205 to detect meaningful content among the text message. In
one instances, a key word (e.g., "accident," "mile marker 56,"
"delay," etc.) may be word or term remaining in the transcribed
spoken statement after the data processing module 205 removes
commonly used words (e.g., "at," "and," "likely"). In one
embodiment, the data processing module 205 can calculate or
determine the degree of similarity among the key words to derive
the relevant content of the text message. In one instance, the
content relates to traffic information, truck parking conditions,
accident information, information on other drivers (e.g., erratic
or dangerous driving behavior), road condition information (e.g., a
permanent or temporary road closure), or a combination thereof. In
one embodiment, the data processing module 205 may use a machine
learning model (e.g., a support vector machine (SVM), a neural
network, decision tree, etc.) to automatically or predictively
process the text using NLP.
[0046] In step 307, the notification module 121 transmits the
content to a server (e.g., the notification platform 113), wherein
the communication module 207 distributes the content to one or more
other users. By way of example, the server may be a central server
(e.g., the notification platform 113), a third-party server (e.g.,
a server associated with a third-party service 117), or a
combination thereof. In one embodiment, the notification module 121
generates a message comprising an identifier of the device (e.g.,
CB radio XYZ), a sensed location of the device (e.g., a GPS
coordinate, route 107, etc.), one or more tags, one or more key
words, a timestamp, a Boolean flag (e.g., indicating whether the
message originates from a CB microphone or a speaker) or a
combination thereof, wherein the content is transmitted to the
server (e.g., the notification platform 113) using the message. In
one instance, the notification module 121 transmits the content to
a server (e.g., the notification platform 113) or the content is
distributed from a server (e.g., the notification platform 113)
using a messaging protocol. In one embodiment, the messaging
protocol is a short messaging service (SMS) protocol.
[0047] In one embodiment, the server (e.g., the notification
platform 113) distributes the content to the one or more other
users (e.g., a second driver of a long-haul truck) via an
application executing on a receiving device (e.g., a navigation
application 111), a display device with connectivity to a CB radio
system, or a combination thereof. By way of example, the one or
more other users may be other travelers on or near a given road or
route, other interested individuals or observers (e.g., news
reporters, municipal workers, etc.), or a combination thereof. For
example, the other travelers may be drivers or passengers that are
currently traveling on the given road or route or they may be
planning to travel on the given road or route shortly. In one
embodiment, the communication module 207 distributes the content to
other users (e.g., long-haul truck drivers) as an alert message
(e.g., "warning police speed trap on Interstate 95 northbound
around mile marker 56.") In one instance, the communication module
207 distributes the content to other users based on one or more
filters selected by the one or more other users. For example, a
long-haul truck driver may set a filter on her/his UE 101 (e.g., a
CB radio) for "speed traps," "accidents," and "road closures" and a
news reporter may set a filter on her/his UE 101 (e.g., a mobile
device) for "accidents" and "road closures."
[0048] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a server-side process for providing
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications, according to one embodiment. In various
embodiments, the notification platform 113, the notification module
121, and/or the modules 201-209 as shown in FIG. 2 may perform one
or more portions of the process 400 and may be implemented in, for
instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in
FIG. 10. As such, the notification platform 113, the notification
module 121, and/or the modules 201-209 can provide means for
accomplishing various parts of the process 400, as well as means
for accomplishing embodiments of other processes described herein
in conjunction with other components of the system 100. Although
the process 400 is illustrated and described as a sequence of
steps, it is contemplated that various embodiments of the process
400 may be performed in any order or combination and need not
include all of the illustrated steps.
[0049] In step 401, the communication module 207 receives one or
more messages from a one or more devices (e.g., a CB radio),
wherein the one or more messages are generated by capturing a CB
radio communication as an audio sample (e.g., an audio file),
wherein the audio sample is processed to detect content using NLP
by the one or more devices (e.g., a UE 101), and wherein the one or
more messages are generated to include the content. In one
embodiment, the communication module 207 receives the one or more
messages from the notification module 121 of a UE 101 (e.g., a CB
radio) over a cellular data network (e.g., the communication
network 115) using a messaging protocol (e.g., SMS), as described
in step 307 above. In other words, in step 401, the communication
module 207 receives the one or more messages generated on the
device side as described with respect to FIG. 3.
[0050] In one embodiment, the one or more received messages include
one or more contextual parameters. In one instance, the one or more
contextual parameters include a timestamp associated with the CB
radio communication, a location associated with the CB radio
communication, or a combination thereof. As described above, a
timestamp, a location, or a combination thereof associated with the
message may be based on information or data from a device sensor
103 (e.g., a GPS sensor) associated with the CB radio 101 that
transmitted the one or more messages received by the communication
module 207.
[0051] In step 403, the storage module 209 stores the one or more
messages at a central server (e.g., a message repository). In one
instance, the storage module 209 can store the one or more messages
in the geographic database 123. In one embodiment, the data
processing module 205 can group the one or more messages stored at
the central server (e.g., in the geographic database 123) into a
single message based on one or more contextual parameters. By way
of example, the data processing module 205 may group all the
messages that include a similar location (e.g., on or near route
107). In another example, the data processing module 205 may group
the one or more messages based on a further level of granularity
(e.g., on or near route 107 at a time of day, a day of the week,
etc.).
[0052] In one embodiment, wherein the one or more messages (e.g.,
stored at the notification platform 113, the geographic database
123, or a combination thereof) include a plurality of unique
messages, the data processing module 205 can derive a higher order
scenario message content based on the plurality of unique messages.
In one embodiment, the data processing module 205 can determine the
higher order scenario message content based on one or more
determined patterns among the messages (e.g., a hot spot, an
accident, truck parking availability, etc.). By way of example, the
sampling module 201 may capture that multiple long-haul trucks
recently pulled out of a truck rest station based on CB radio
communications. In one embodiment, the data processing module 205
can then determine from among these unique messages that truck
parking spaces may be available at the location from where and when
the communications originated.
[0053] In step 405, the communication module 207 distributes the
one or more messages from the central server (e.g., the
notification platform 113) to one or more other devices (e.g., CB
radios 101). In one embodiment, wherein the data processing module
205 groups the one or more messages into a single message, as
described above, the communication module 207 can distribute the
single message to the one or more other devices (e.g., CB radio,
mobile device, embedded navigation system, etc.). In one instance,
wherein the data processing module 205 derives a higher order
scenario message content, as described above, the communication
module 207 can transmit the higher order scenario message content
to one or more other devices (e.g., CB radio, mobile device,
embedded navigation system, etc.).
[0054] In one embodiment, the data processing module 205 generates
one or more location-specific alerts based on one or more messages,
wherein the one or more messages are distributed by the
communication module 207 to the one or more other devices (e.g., CB
radio, mobile device, embedded navigation system, etc.) as one or
more location-specific alerts. In one instance, the one or more
location-specific alerts are transmitted by the communication
module 207 as a location-specific stream to the one or more other
devices (e.g., CB radio, mobile device, embedded navigation system,
etc.). By way of example, a user (e.g., a truck driver, news
reporter, etc.) can use her/his UE 101 to listen to a route 107
stream to learn route-related information pertaining to route 107
(e.g., for navigation, news reporting, estimated time of arrival,
etc.).
[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example architecture for
collecting and providing route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications, according to one
embodiment. In one embodiment, the information flow begins with the
audio in module 501 of a CB radio 503 (e.g., a UE 101) capturing
the verbal or spoken statements of a user of the CB radio 503 in
the form of an audio sample (e.g., an audio file). In this example,
the CB radio 503 is associated with a vehicle 105 (e.g., a
long-haul truck), a driver or a passenger of the vehicle 105, or a
combination thereof.
[0056] In this example, the audio sample is transmitted between the
audio in module 501 and the speech to text module 505. The speech
to text module 505 converts the user's speech to text (e.g., using
speech recognition software) and transmits the text to the NLP
module 507. The NLP module 507 processes the text (e.g., using
tags, key words, etc.) to detect meaningful content such as
traffic, truck parking information, accidents, even abnormal or
erratic driving behavior. The NLP module 507 then transmits the
meaningful content (e.g., accident route 107 northbound mile marker
56) to a controller 509 (e.g., the notification module 121) that
transmits the content to the GPRS GMS module 511 (i.e., a cellular
radio module). Thereafter, the GPRS GSM module 511 transmits the
content to the message stream module 513 of the central system 515
via the cellular data network 517 (e.g., the communication network
115) using a messaging protocol (e.g., SMS). In this example, a GPS
module 519 of the smart CB radio 503 provides location-based
information (e.g. location, heading, speed) that is embedded in the
content or transmitted along with the content such that the
controller 521 (e.g., the notification platform 113) can determine
the origin of the information.
[0057] In one instance, the controller 521 (e.g., the notification
platform 113) streams location specific alerts through the alert
stream module 525 to other participating smart CB radios 503 via
the cellular data network 517. Thereafter, the controller 509
(e.g., the notification module 121) can display or broadcast the
route-related information through the alert display & audio
module 527 (e.g., an application 111).
[0058] In one embodiment, wherein the content is transmitted to the
control module 521 (e.g., the notification platform 113) without
location-based information, the location estimator 523 can combine
messages received from multiple sources based on the text messages
(or hashes generated out of it) and approximate time stamps to
derive an approximate location of the original source (e.g., the
smart CB radio 503). In one instance, the derivation engine 525 may
be used to derive higher order scenarios using multiple unique
messages having the same proximity of time and location to generate
additional alerts. In one embodiment, the controller module 521 can
store information, content, messages, or a combination thereof in
the message repository 531 (e.g., the geographic database 123) for
further processing. For example, the controller 521 can further
process the stored information to generate patterns such as hot
spots, accident information, truck parking availability, etc.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example user interface for
collecting route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment. Referring to
FIG. 6, a smart CB radio UI 601 (e.g., a messaging application 111)
is generated for a UE 101 (e.g., a smart CB radio) that a user
(e.g., a long-haul truck driver) can use while driving to warn
other drivers on the same road or route of route-related
information (e.g., a multicar accident that is likely to cause
substantial traffic delays on this road and other connected roads
or routes).
[0060] In one embodiment, the user can initiate the capturing or
recording of her/his voice through a microphone 603 of the UI 601
via an interaction with the input 605. In one instance, the input
605 may be a physical button like that of an ordinary CB radio such
that a user can initiate the capture or recording her/his voice by
depressing the input 605. In another instance, the input 605 may be
a virtual or digital button such that a user can initiate the
capture or recording by one or more physical interactions (e.g., a
touch, a tap, a gesture, etc.), one or more voice commands (e.g.,
"CB start recoding"), or a combination thereof. In one instance,
once the user initiates the capture or recording, the user can
begin speaking in and/or towards the microphone 603. In one
embodiment, the system 100 can generate the UI 601 such that it
includes a graphic icon 607 (e.g., a microphone, a sound wave, or
combination thereof) and a notification 609 (e.g., "message
recording") to alert the user that the UI 601 is recording her/his
speech.
[0061] In one embodiment, the system 100 can generate the UI 601
such that it displays to the user the conversion of her/his speech
to text in real-time or substantially real time (e.g., using speech
recognition software, speech to text, etc.), as depicted in the
display area 611 of the UI 601. For example, the user might be
saying into the microphone 603 "alert major accident southbound
Interstate 95 ahead of Richmond." In one embodiment, the system 100
can generate the UI 601 such that it includes the notification 613
(e.g., "transcription correct"?) to prompt a user to confirm
whether her/his verbal statement was transcribed accurately by the
system 100. In one instance, the system 100 can generate the UI 601
such that it includes an input 615 ("broadcast") for when the
statement was transcribed accurately and an input 617 ("re-record")
for when the user perceives that there was an error in either
her/his statement or in the transcription by the system 100. In one
embodiment, the system 100 enables a user to interact with the
inputs 615 and 617 through one or more physical interactions (e.g.,
a touch, a tap, a gesture, etc.), one or more voice-commands (e.g.,
"CB broadcast" or "CB re-record"), or a combination thereof.
[0062] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of example user interfaces for
providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, according to one embodiment. In one
embodiment, following the example of FIG. 6, the system 100 can
generate a smart CB radio UI 701 (e.g., a messaging application
111) for a UE 101 (e.g., a smart CB radio) that a user (e.g., a
long-haul truck driver) can use (e.g., while driving) to receive
relevant route-related information from another user (e.g., a
long-haul truck driver) that may impact her/his trip planning,
routing, and/or estimated time of arrival.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 7A, in one embodiment, the system 100 can
generate the UI 701 such that a user can filter the route-related
information collected by the system 100 from one or more other
users (e.g., long-haul truck drivers) to ensure that the provided
information is relevant and/or desired. In one embodiment, the
system 100 can generate the UI 701 such that it includes one or
more inputs 703 (e.g., information filters) to enable a user to
filter the route-related information collected and/or stored (e.g.,
in the geographic database 123) by the system 100 at a given time.
By way of example, the one or more information filters may include
options such as: "traffic," "truck parking," "accidents,"
"dangerous drivers," etc. In one instance, the system 100 generates
the UI 701 such that it includes an input 705 to enable a user to
"add or customize" the one or more information filters. By way of
example, a user may want to filter the route-related information
based on a specific road or route (e.g., 1-95), a time of day, a
day of the week, one or more other contextual parameters, or a
combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system 100 enables a
user to interact with the inputs 703 and 705 through one or more
physical interactions (e.g., a touch, a tap, a gesture, etc.), one
or more voice-commands (e.g., "CB traffic" or "CB parking"), or a
combination thereof. In this example, the user selected "traffic"
and "accident" route-related information.
[0064] In one embodiment, the system 100 can generate the UI 701
such that it provides a user (e.g., a long-haul truck driver) with
the filtered route-related information (e.g., traffic and
accidents) as a location-specific alert, as depicted in FIG. 7B. In
one instance, the system 100 can render the verbal message captured
or recorded in the example of FIG. 6 (e.g., "alert major accident
southbound Interstate 95 ahead of Richmond") as both a text alert
707 and a graphic alert 709 (e.g., rendered in connection with a
mapping/navigation application 111). In one embodiment, the system
100 can render the UI 701 with an input 711 to enable a user to
search the message repository of the system 100 (e.g., the
geographic database 123) for one or more messages suggesting an
alternative route (e.g., routes 713a-713c), which the system 100
can then display and/or provide routing guidance accordingly to the
user in the UI 701.
[0065] Returning to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the UEs 101 can be
associated with any of the vehicles 105 (e.g., a long-haul truck),
a driver or a passenger of the vehicle 105, or an individuals that
is able to observe road conditions and/or situations in real time
and that wants to share such information to others. By way of
example, the UEs 101 can be any type of mobile terminal, fixed
terminal, or portable terminal including a mobile handset, station,
unit, device, multimedia computer, multimedia tablet, Internet
node, communicator, desktop computer, laptop computer, notebook
computer, netbook computer, tablet computer, personal communication
system (PCS) device, personal navigation device, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), audio/video player, digital camera/camcorder,
positioning device, fitness device, television receiver, radio
broadcast receiver, electronic book device, game device, devices
associated with one or more vehicles or any combination thereof,
including the accessories and peripherals of these devices, or any
combination thereof. It is also contemplated that a UE 101 can
support any type of interface to the user (such as "wearable"
circuitry, etc.). In one embodiment, the vehicles 105 may have
cellular or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection either through the
inbuilt communication equipment or from a UE 101 associated with
the vehicles 105. Also, the UEs 101 may be configured to access the
communication network 115 by way of any known or still developing
communication protocols. In one embodiment, the UEs 101 may include
device sensors 103 (e.g., GPS sensors), applications 111 (e.g.,
speech to text applications, NPL applications, etc.), and the
notification module 121 to collect and to provide route-related
information based on voice-activated CB radio communications.
[0066] By way of example, the device sensors 103 may include GPS
sensors, a microphone, a front facing camera, a rear facing camera,
multi-axial accelerometers, height sensors, tilt sensors, wireless
network sensors, etc. and the applications 111 may include speech
recognition applications, speech to text, NLP applications,
messaging applications, mapping applications, routing applications,
guidance applications, etc. In one example embodiment, the GPS
sensors 103 can enable the UEs 101 to obtain geographic coordinates
from satellites 125 for determining the location of the broadcaster
of the voice message captured by the UE 101 (e.g., a CB radio).
Further, a user location (e.g., a long-haul truck driver) may be
determined by a triangulation system such as A-GPS, Cell of Origin,
or other location extrapolation technologies when cellular or
network signals are available.
[0067] In one embodiment, the vehicles 105 are standard transport
vehicles (e.g., cars, vans, trucks, etc.) that can be used to
transport users (e.g., either as drivers or passengers). In one
instance, the vehicles 105 are autonomous or semi-autonomous
transport vehicles that can sense their environments and navigate
without driver or occupant input via one or more vehicle sensors
127a-127n (also collectively referred to herein as vehicle sensors
127) having connectivity to the notification platform 113, the
notification module 121, or a combination thereof via the
communication network 115. By way of example, the vehicle sensors
127 may be any type of sensor. In certain embodiments, the vehicle
sensors 127 may include, for example, a GPS sensor for gathering
location data, temporal information sensors, a camera/imaging
sensor for gathering image data, velocity sensors, and the like. In
one scenario, the vehicle sensors 127 may detect weather data,
traffic information, or a combination thereof. In one example
embodiment, the vehicles 105 may include GPS receivers to obtain
geographic coordinates from the satellites 125 for determining
current or live location and time. Further, the location can be
determined by a triangulation system such as A-GPS, Cell of Origin,
or other location extrapolation technologies when cellular or
network signals are available. In one instance, the system 100 may
utilize the device sensors 103 and the vehicle sensors 127 in
combination to derive the approximate time and/or location of a
spoken message captured or recorded by a UE 101 (e.g., a CB radio).
Although the vehicles 105 are depicted as automobiles, it is
contemplated that the vehicles 105 may be any type of
transportation that a user can drive or ride within as a
passenger.
[0068] In one embodiment, the notification platform 113 and/or the
notification module 121 performs the process for collecting and
providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications as discussed with respect to the various
embodiments described herein. In one embodiment, the notification
platform 113 can be a standalone server or a component of another
device with connectivity to the communication network 115. For
example, the component can be part of an edge computing network
where remote computing devices (not shown) are installed along or
within proximity of an intended destination (e.g., a city
center).
[0069] In one embodiment, the notification platform 113 and/or the
notification module 121 has connectivity over the communication
network 115 to the services platform 117 (e.g., an OEM platform)
that provides one or more of the services 119. By way of example,
the services 119 may also be other third-party cloud-based services
and include speech recognition services, NLP services, messaging
services, alert notification services, mapping services, navigation
services, routing services, social networking services, content
(e.g., audio, video, images, etc.) provisioning services,
application services, storage services, contextual information
determination services, location-based services, information-based
services (e.g., weather, news, etc.), etc.
[0070] In one embodiment, one or more content providers 129a-129n
(also collectively referred to herein as content providers 129) may
provide content or data (e.g., traffic information, parking
information, accident information, etc.) to the EUs 101, the
vehicles 105, the applications 111, the notification platform 113,
the services platform 117, the services 119, the notification
module 121, and the geographic database 123. The content provided
may be any type of content, such as map content, contextual
content, audio content, video content, image content, etc. In one
embodiment, the content providers 129 may also store content
associated with the EUs 101, the vehicles 105, the applications
111, the notification platform 113, the services platform 117, the
services 119, the notification module 121, and/or the geographic
database 123. In another embodiment, the content providers 129 may
manage access to a central repository of data, and offer a
consistent, standard interface to data, such as a repository of the
geographic database 123.
[0071] The communication network 115 of system 100 includes one or
more networks such as a data network, a wireless network, a
telephony network, or any combination thereof. It is contemplated
that the data network may be any local area network (LAN),
metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public
data network (e.g., the Internet), short range wireless network, or
any other suitable packet-switched network, such as a commercially
owned, proprietary packet-switched network, e.g., a proprietary
cable or fiber-optic network, and the like, or any combination
thereof. In addition, the wireless network may be, for example, a
cellular network and may employ various technologies including
enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet
radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications
(GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal
mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), short messaging service
(SMS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g.,
worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term
Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA),
wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity
(Wi-Fi), wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth.RTM., Internet Protocol
(IP) data casting, satellite, mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), and
the like, or any combination thereof.
[0072] In one embodiment, the notification platform 113 may be a
platform with multiple interconnected components. By way of
example, the notification platform 113 may include multiple
servers, intelligent networking devices, computing devices,
components and corresponding software for collecting and providing
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications. In addition, it is noted that the notification
platform 113 may be a separate entity of the system 100, a part of
the services platform 117, the one or more services 119, or the
content providers 129.
[0073] In one embodiment, the geographic database 123 stores one or
more collected or recorded voice messages transcribed into text,
processed by NPL, and transmitted to a server (e.g., the
notification platform 113); one or more contextual parameters
associated with the one or more messages; one or more grouped
messages; one or more higher order scenario message content (e.g.,
patterns such as hot spots, accidents, truck parking availability,
etc.); one or more location-specific alerts; or a combination
thereof derived from the UEs 101. The information may be any of
multiple types of information that can provide means for collecting
and providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications. In another embodiment, the geographic
database 123 may be in a cloud and/or in a UE 101, a vehicle 105,
or a combination thereof.
[0074] By way of example, the UEs 101, the vehicles 105, the
applications 111, the notification platform 113, the services
platform 117, the services 119, the notification module 121, the
geographic database 123, the satellites 125, the vehicle sensors
127, and the content providers 129 communicate with each other and
other components of the communication network 115 using well known,
new or still developing protocols. In this context, a protocol
includes a set of rules defining how the network nodes within the
communication network 115 interact with each other based on
information sent over the communication links. The protocols are
effective at different layers of operation within each node, from
generating and receiving physical signals of various types, to
selecting a link for transferring those signals, to the format of
information indicated by those signals, to identifying which
software application executing on a computer system sends or
receives the information. The conceptually different layers of
protocols for exchanging information over a network are described
in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model.
[0075] Communications between the network nodes are typically
effected by exchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet
typically comprises (1) header information associated with a
particular protocol, and (2) payload information that follows the
header information and contains information that may be processed
independently of that particular protocol. In some protocols, the
packet includes (3) trailer information following the payload and
indicating the end of the payload information. The header includes
information such as the source of the packet, its destination, the
length of the payload, and other properties used by the protocol.
Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocol includes
a header and payload for a different protocol associated with a
different, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for
a particular protocol typically indicates a type for the next
protocol contained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is
said to be encapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers
included in a packet traversing multiple heterogeneous networks,
such as the Internet, typically include a physical (layer 1)
header, a data-link (layer 2) header, an internetwork (layer 3)
header and a transport (layer 4) header, and various application
(layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) headers as defined by the OSI
Reference Model.
[0076] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a geographic database, according to
one embodiment. In one embodiment, geographic database 123 includes
geographic data 801 used for (or configured to be compiled to be
used for) mapping and/or navigation-related services. In one
embodiment, geographic features, e.g., two-dimensional or
three-dimensional features, are represented using polygons, e.g.,
two-dimensional features, or polygon extrusions, e.g.,
three-dimensional features. For example, the edges of the polygons
correspond to the boundaries or edges of the respective geographic
feature. In the case of a building, a two-dimensional polygon can
be used to represent a footprint of the building, and a
three-dimensional polygon extrusion can be used to represent the
three-dimensional surfaces of the building. It is contemplated that
although various embodiments are discussed with respect to
two-dimensional polygons, it is contemplated that the embodiments
are also applicable to three-dimensional polygon extrusions.
Accordingly, the terms polygons and polygon extrusions as used
herein can be used interchangeably.
[0077] In one embodiment, the following terminology applies to the
representation of geographic features in geographic database
123.
[0078] "Node"--A point that terminates a link.
[0079] "Line segment"--A straight line connecting two points.
[0080] "Link" (or "edge")--A contiguous, non-branching string of
one or more-line segments terminating in a node at each end.
[0081] "Shape point"--A point along a link between two nodes, e.g.,
used to alter a shape of the link without defining new nodes.
[0082] "Oriented link"--A link that has a starting node (referred
to as the "reference node") and an ending node (referred to as the
"non-reference node").
[0083] "Simple polygon"--An interior area of an outer boundary
formed by a string of oriented links that begins and ends in one
node. In one embodiment, a simple polygon does not cross
itself.
[0084] "Polygon"--An area bounded by an outer boundary and none or
at least one interior boundary, e.g., a hole or island. In one
embodiment, a polygon is constructed from one outer simple polygon
and none or at least one inner simple polygon. A polygon is simple
if it just consists of one simple polygon, or complex if it has at
least one inner simple polygon.
[0085] In one embodiment, geographic database 123 follows certain
conventions. For example, links do not cross themselves and do not
cross each other except at a node. Also, there are no duplicated
shape points, nodes, or links. Two links that connect each other
have a common node. In geographic database 123, overlapping
geographic features are represented by overlapping polygons. When
polygons overlap, the boundary of one polygon crosses the boundary
of the other polygon. In geographic database 123, the location at
which the boundary of one polygon intersects they boundary of
another polygon is represented by a node. In one embodiment, a node
may be used to represent other locations along the boundary of a
polygon than a location at which the boundary of the polygon
intersects the boundary of another polygon. In one embodiment, a
shape point is not used to represent a point at which the boundary
of a polygon intersects the boundary of another polygon.
[0086] As shown, the geographic database 123 includes node data
records 803, road segment or link data records 805, POI data
records 807, speech and language data records 809, other data
records 811, and indexes 813, for example. More, fewer or different
data records can be provided. In one embodiment, additional data
records (not shown) can include cartographic ("carto") data
records, routing data, and maneuver data. In one instance, the
additional data records (not shown) can include common information
filter data. In one embodiment, the indexes 813 may improve the
speed of data retrieval operations in geographic database 123. In
one embodiment, the indexes 813 may be used to quickly locate data
without having to search every row in geographic database 123 every
time it is accessed. For example, in one embodiment, the indexes
813 can be a spatial index of the polygon points associated with
stored feature polygons.
[0087] In exemplary embodiments, the road segment data records 805
are links or segments representing roads, streets, or paths, as can
be used in the calculated route or recorded route information for
determination of one or more personalized routes, an estimated time
of arrival, or a combination thereof. The node data records 803 are
end points corresponding to the respective links or segments of the
road segment data records 805. The road link data records 805 and
the node data records 803 represent a road network, such as used by
vehicles, cars, and/or other entities. Alternatively, geographic
database 123 can contain path segment and node data records or
other data that represent pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, or areas
in addition to or instead of the vehicle road record data, for
example.
[0088] The road/link segments and nodes can be associated with
attributes, such as functional class, a road elevation, a speed
category, a presence or absence of road features, geographic
coordinates, street names, address ranges, speed limits, turn
restrictions at intersections, and other navigation related
attributes, as well as POIs, such as truck and vehicle rest
stations or stops, parking lots, gasoline stations, hotels,
restaurants, museums, stadiums, offices, automobile dealerships,
auto repair shops, buildings, stores, parks, etc. The geographic
database 123 can include data about the POIs and their respective
locations in the POI data records 807. In one instance, the POI
data records 807 can include information regarding popular times at
a POI, how long people typically spend at a POI, opening and
closing times of a POI, etc. The geographic database 123 can also
include data about places, such as cities, towns, or other
communities, and other geographic features, such as bodies of
water, mountain ranges, etc. Such place or feature data can be part
of the POI data records 807 or can be associated with POIs or POI
data records 807 (such as a data point used for displaying or
representing a position of a city).
[0089] In one embodiment, the geographic database 123 can also
include speech and language data records 809. In one instance, the
speech and language data records 809 may include one or more
received or recorded audio samples for training the transcription
module 203 to more effectively process audio samples into text. In
one embodiment, the speech and language data records 809 may
include tags, common key words, or a combination thereof used in
NPL. In one instance, the speech and data records 809 may be used
by the data processing module 205 in connection with one or more
machine learning modules to automatically or predictively process
text using NLP.
[0090] In one embodiment, geographic database 123 can be maintained
by a content provider 129 in association with the services platform
117, e.g., a map developer. The map developer can collect
geographic data to generate and enhance geographic database 123.
There can be different ways used by the map developer to collect
data. These ways can include obtaining data from other sources,
such as municipalities or respective geographic authorities. In
addition, the map developer can employ field personnel to travel by
vehicle (e.g., a vehicle 105) and/or travel with a UE 101 along
roads throughout the geographic region (e.g., the road network 109)
to observe features and/or record information about them, for
example. Also, remote sensing, such as aerial or satellite
photography, can be used (e.g., using one or more satellites
125).
[0091] The geographic database 123 can be a master geographic
database stored in a format that facilitates updating, maintenance,
and development. For example, the master geographic database or
data in the master geographic database can be in an Oracle spatial
format or other spatial format, such as for development or
production purposes. The Oracle spatial format or
development/production database can be compiled into a delivery
format, such as a geographic data files (GDF) format. The data in
the production and/or delivery formats can be compiled or further
compiled to form geographic database products or databases, which
can be used in end user navigation devices or systems.
[0092] For example, geographic data is compiled (such as into a
platform specification format (PSF) format) to organize and/or
configure the data for performing navigation-related functions
and/or services, such as route calculation, route guidance, map
display, speed calculation, distance and travel time functions, and
other functions, by a navigation device, such as by a UE 101 or a
vehicle 105, for example. The navigation-related functions can
correspond to vehicle navigation, pedestrian navigation, or other
types of navigation. The compilation to produce the end user
databases can be performed by a party or entity separate from the
map developer. For example, a customer of the map developer, such
as a navigation device developer or other end user device
developer, can perform compilation on a received geographic
database in a delivery format to produce one or more compiled
navigation databases.
[0093] The processes described herein for collecting and providing
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications may be advantageously implemented via software,
hardware, firmware or a combination of software and/or firmware
and/or hardware. For example, the processes described herein, may
be advantageously implemented via processor(s), Digital Signal
Processing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc. Such exemplary
hardware for performing the described functions is detailed
below.
[0094] FIG. 9 illustrates a computer system 900 upon which an
embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Computer system 900
is programmed (e.g., via computer program code or instructions) to
collect and to provide route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications as described herein and
includes a communication mechanism such as a bus 910 for passing
information between other internal and external components of the
computer system 900. Information (also called data) is represented
as a physical expression of a measurable phenomenon, typically
electric voltages, but including, in other embodiments, such
phenomena as magnetic, electromagnetic, pressure, chemical,
biological, molecular, atomic, sub-atomic and quantum interactions.
For example, north and south magnetic fields, or a zero and
non-zero electric voltage, represent two states (0, 1) of a binary
digit (bit). Other phenomena can represent digits of a higher base.
A superposition of multiple simultaneous quantum states before
measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). A sequence of one or
more digits constitutes digital data that is used to represent a
number or code for a character. In some embodiments, information
called analog data is represented by a near continuum of measurable
values within a particular range.
[0095] A bus 910 includes one or more parallel conductors of
information so that information is transferred quickly among
devices coupled to the bus 910. One or more processors 902 for
processing information are coupled with the bus 910.
[0096] A processor 902 performs a set of operations on information
as specified by computer program code related to collecting and
providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications. The computer program code is a set of
instructions or statements providing instructions for the operation
of the processor and/or the computer system to perform specified
functions. The code, for example, may be written in a computer
programming language that is compiled into a native instruction set
of the processor. The code may also be written directly using the
native instruction set (e.g., machine language). The set of
operations include bringing information in from the bus 910 and
placing information on the bus 910. The set of operations also
typically include comparing two or more units of information,
shifting positions of units of information, and combining two or
more units of information, such as by addition or multiplication or
logical operations like OR, exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Each
operation of the set of operations that can be performed by the
processor is represented to the processor by information called
instructions, such as an operation code of one or more digits. A
sequence of operations to be executed by the processor 902, such as
a sequence of operation codes, constitute processor instructions,
also called computer system instructions or, simply, computer
instructions. Processors may be implemented as mechanical,
electrical, magnetic, optical, chemical or quantum components,
among others, alone or in combination.
[0097] Computer system 900 also includes a memory 904 coupled to
bus 910. The memory 904, such as a random-access memory (RAM) or
other dynamic storage device, stores information including
processor instructions for collecting and providing route-related
information based on voice-activated CB radio communications.
Dynamic memory allows information stored therein to be changed by
the computer system 900. RAM allows a unit of information stored at
a location called a memory address to be stored and retrieved
independently of information at neighboring addresses. The memory
904 is also used by the processor 902 to store temporary values
during execution of processor instructions. The computer system 900
also includes a read only memory (ROM) 906 or other static storage
device coupled to the bus 910 for storing static information,
including instructions, that is not changed by the computer system
900. Some memory is composed of volatile storage that loses the
information stored thereon when power is lost. Also coupled to bus
910 is a non-volatile (persistent) storage device 908, such as a
magnetic disk, optical disk or flash card, for storing information,
including instructions, that persists even when the computer system
900 is turned off or otherwise loses power.
[0098] Information, including instructions for collecting and
providing route-related information based on voice-activated CB
radio communications, is provided to the bus 910 for use by the
processor from an external input device 912, such as a keyboard
containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, or a sensor.
A sensor detects conditions in its vicinity and transforms those
detections into physical expression compatible with the measurable
phenomenon used to represent information in computer system 900.
Other external devices coupled to bus 910, used primarily for
interacting with humans, include a display device 914, such as a
cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), or plasma
screen or printer for presenting text or images, and a pointing
device 916, such as a mouse or a trackball or cursor direction
keys, or motion sensor, for controlling a position of a small
cursor image presented on the display 914 and issuing commands
associated with graphical elements presented on the display 914. In
some embodiments, for example, in embodiments in which the computer
system 900 performs all functions automatically without human
input, one or more of external input device 912, display device 914
and pointing device 916 is omitted.
[0099] In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware,
such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 920, is
coupled to bus 910. The special purpose hardware is configured to
perform operations not performed by processor 902 quickly enough
for special purposes. Examples of application specific ICs include
graphics accelerator cards for generating images for display 914,
cryptographic boards for encrypting and decrypting messages sent
over a network, speech recognition, and interfaces to special
external devices, such as robotic arms and medical scanning
equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence of
operations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware.
[0100] Computer system 900 also includes one or more instances of a
communications interface 970 coupled to bus 910. Communication
interface 970 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling
to a variety of external devices that operate with their own
processors, such as printers, scanners and external disks. In
general, the coupling is with a network link 978 that is connected
to a local network 980 to which a variety of external devices with
their own processors are connected. For example, communication
interface 970 may be a parallel port or a serial port or a
universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. In some
embodiments, communications interface 970 is an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card
or a telephone modem that provides an information communication
connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. In some
embodiments, a communication interface 970 is a cable modem that
converts signals on bus 910 into signals for a communication
connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signals for a
communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As another
example, communications interface 970 may be a local area network
(LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a
compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also be
implemented. For wireless links, the communications interface 970
sends or receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic
or electromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals,
that carry information streams, such as digital data. For example,
in wireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell
phones, the communications interface 970 includes a radio band
electromagnetic transmitter and receiver called a radio
transceiver. In certain embodiments, the communications interface
970 enables connection to the communication network 115 for
collecting and providing route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications.
[0101] The term non-transitory computer-readable medium is used
herein to refer to any medium that participates in providing
information to processor 902, including instructions for execution.
Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to,
non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission media.
Non-volatile or non-transitory media include, for example, optical
or magnetic disks, such as storage device 908. Volatile media
include, for example, dynamic memory 904. Transmission media
include, for example, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic
cables, and carrier waves that travel through space without wires
or cables, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves,
including radio, optical and infrared waves. Signals include
man-made transient variations in amplitude, frequency, phase,
polarization or other physical properties transmitted through the
transmission media. Common forms of computer-readable media
include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,
magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any
other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets,
any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically
recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any
other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium
from which a computer can read.
[0102] In one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more
instructions (e.g., computer code) which, when executed by one or
more processors (e.g., a processor as described in FIG. 5), cause
an apparatus (e.g., the vehicles 101, the UEs 105, the notification
platform 113, etc.) to perform any steps of the various embodiments
of the methods described herein.
[0103] FIG. 10 illustrates a chip set 1000 upon which an embodiment
of the invention may be implemented. Chip set 1000 is programmed to
collect and to provide route-related information based on
voice-activated CB radio communications as described herein and
includes, for instance, the processor and memory components
described with respect to FIG. 9 incorporated in one or more
physical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical
package includes an arrangement of one or more materials,
components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a
baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physical
strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical
interaction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the
chip set can be implemented in a single chip.
[0104] In one embodiment, the chip set 1000 includes a
communication mechanism such as a bus 1001 for passing information
among the components of the chip set 1000. A processor 1003 has
connectivity to the bus 1001 to execute instructions and process
information stored in, for example, a memory 1005. The processor
1003 may include one or more processing cores with each core
configured to perform independently. A multi-core processor enables
multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of a
multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers
of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor
1003 may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem
via the bus 1001 to enable independent execution of instructions,
pipelining, and multithreading. The processor 1003 may also be
accompanied with one or more specialized components to perform
certain processing functions and tasks such as one or more digital
signal processors (DSP) 1007, or one or more application-specific
integrated circuits (ASIC) 1009. A DSP 1007 typically is configured
to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time
independently of the processor 1003. Similarly, an ASIC 1009 can be
configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed
by a general purposed processor. Other specialized components to
aid in performing the inventive functions described herein include
one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) (not shown), one
or more controllers (not shown), or one or more other
special-purpose computer chips.
[0105] The processor 1003 and accompanying components have
connectivity to the memory 1005 via the bus 1001. The memory 1005
includes both dynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable
optical disk, etc.) and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for
storing executable instructions that when executed perform the
inventive steps described herein to collect and to provide
route-related information based on voice-activated CB radio
communications. The memory 1005 also stores the data associated
with or generated by the execution of the inventive steps.
[0106] FIG. 11 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile
terminal 1101 (e.g., handset or vehicle or part thereof) capable of
operating in the system of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment.
Generally, a radio receiver is often defined in terms of front-end
and back-end characteristics. The front-end of the receiver
encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the
back-end encompasses all of the base-band processing circuitry.
Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main
Control Unit (MCU) 1103, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 1105, and
a receiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control
unit and a speaker gain control unit. A main display unit 1107
provides a display to the user in support of various applications
and mobile station functions that offer automatic contact matching.
An audio function circuitry 1109 includes a microphone 1111 and
microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from
the microphone 1111. The amplified speech signal output from the
microphone 1111 is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 1113.
[0107] A radio section 1115 amplifies power and converts frequency
in order to communicate with a base station, which is included in a
mobile communication system, via antenna 1117. The power amplifier
(PA) 1119 and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are
operationally responsive to the MCU 1103, with an output from the
PA 1119 coupled to the duplexer 1121 or circulator or antenna
switch, as known in the art. The PA 1119 also couples to a battery
interface and power control unit 1120.
[0108] In use, a user of mobile station 1101 speaks into the
microphone 1111 and his or her voice along with any detected
background noise is converted into an analog voltage. The analog
voltage is then converted into a digital signal through the Analog
to Digital Converter (ADC) 1123. The control unit 1103 routes the
digital signal into the DSP 1105 for processing therein, such as
speech encoding, channel encoding, encrypting, and interleaving. In
one embodiment, the processed voice signals are encoded, by units
not separately shown, using a cellular transmission protocol such
as global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS),
global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol
multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications
system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium,
e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks,
code division multiple access (CDMA), WiFi, satellite, and the
like.
[0109] The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 1125 for
compensation of any frequency-dependent impairments that occur
during transmission though the air such as phase and amplitude
distortion. After equalizing the bit stream, the modulator 1127
combines the signal with a RF signal generated in the RF interface
1129. The modulator 1127 generates a sine wave by way of frequency
or phase modulation. In order to prepare the signal for
transmission, an up-converter 1131 combines the sine wave output
from the modulator 1127 with another sine wave generated by a
synthesizer 1133 to achieve the desired frequency of transmission.
The signal is then sent through a PA 1119 to increase the signal to
an appropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA 1119 acts
as a variable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP
1105 from information received from a network base station. The
signal is then filtered within the duplexer 1121 and optionally
sent to an antenna coupler 1135 to match impedances to provide
maximum power transfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via
antenna 1117 to a local base station. An automatic gain control
(AGC) can be supplied to control the gain of the final stages of
the receiver. The signals may be forwarded from there to a remote
telephone which may be another cellular telephone, other mobile
phone or a land-line connected to a Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks.
[0110] Voice signals transmitted to the mobile station 1101 are
received via antenna 1117 and immediately amplified by a low noise
amplifier (LNA) 1137. A down-converter 1139 lowers the carrier
frequency while the demodulator 1141 strips away the RF leaving
only a digital bit stream. The signal then goes through the
equalizer 1125 and is processed by the DSP 1105. A Digital to
Analog Converter (DAC) 1143 converts the signal and the resulting
output is transmitted to the user through the speaker 1145, all
under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU) 1103--which can be
implemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown).
[0111] The MCU 1103 receives various signals including input
signals from the keyboard 1147. The keyboard 1147 and/or the MCU
1103 in combination with other user input components (e.g., the
microphone 1111) comprise a user interface circuitry for managing
user input. The MCU 1103 runs a user interface software to
facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile
station 1101 to collect and to provide route-related information
based on voice-activated CB radio communications. The MCU 1103 also
delivers a display command and a switch command to the display 1107
and to the speech output switching controller, respectively.
Further, the MCU 1103 exchanges information with the DSP 1105 and
can access an optionally incorporated SIM card 1149 and a memory
1151. In addition, the MCU 1103 executes various control functions
required of the station. The DSP 1105 may, depending upon the
implementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digital
processing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP 1105
determines the background noise level of the local environment from
the signals detected by microphone 1111 and sets the gain of
microphone 1111 to a level selected to compensate for the natural
tendency of the user of the mobile station 1101.
[0112] The CODEC 1113 includes the ADC 1123 and DAC 1143. The
memory 1151 stores various data including call incoming tone data
and is capable of storing other data including music data received
via, e.g., the global Internet. The software module could reside in
RAM memory, flash memory, registers, or any other form of writable
non-transitory computer readable storage medium known in the art.
The memory device 1151 may be, but not limited to, a single memory,
CD, DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, or any other
non-volatile storage medium capable of storing digital data.
[0113] An optionally incorporated SIM card 1149 carries, for
instance, important information, such as the cellular phone number,
the carrier supplying service, subscription details, and security
information. The SIM card 1149 serves primarily to identify the
mobile station 1101 on a radio network. The card 1149 also contains
a memory for storing a personal telephone number registry, text
messages, and user specific mobile station settings.
[0114] While the invention has been described in connection with a
number of embodiments and implementations, the invention is not so
limited but covers various obvious modifications and equivalent
arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims.
Although features of the invention are expressed in certain
combinations among the claims, it is contemplated that these
features can be arranged in any combination and order.
* * * * *